Detecting mechanism



May 8, 1923.

M. F, Flr-:Lp

DBTECTING HIGHAUISI ,Lleve? Filed Feb. 28 l1.922

Patented May 8, 1923D UNETED aras Para IILLARD FEL FEELD, @1F WENTHROP, MASESE'SETTS,

DETECTING MECHNESM,

Application led February 2S, 19222.

To all whom tft 'may concern:

Be it known that l, Mmmm F. Finne, a citizen oi' the United States, and resident o? Winthrop, in the county of Suiiolr and State oi Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Detecting Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification., like letters on the drawings re resenting like parts.

y present invention is an improved detecting mechanism intended primarily for use in connection with yarn and thread twisting machines, and constitutes a modification and improvement of the apparatus illustrated in my prior application Serial No. 423,703, iledNovember l2, 1920, for automatic thread detecting and stop mechanlsm.

In said prior application, I illustra-ted, described and claimed a cylinder or tube constituting a combined guide member over which the separate threads were drawn Jfor spacing and viewing the same, which member was formed as a hollow tube carrying the thread detecting instrumentalities and the electrical contact members, which members were brought into circuit by the breaking of a thread and the consequent movement of one of the detecting instrumentalities. This guide member or tube was also rotatable to provide desired adjustment of the tension oit the detectors and to facilitate threading, etc. Furthermore, all the movable parts of the detectors` their cooperating mechanism, and electrical contact means were protected within the cylinder or guide member guarding the same from dust, flying lint, etce My present invention is directed to an improvement in this hollow guide member.

or tube and the means for holding and rendering more sensitive and operative the detectors.

The detectors consist in a plurality oi' lsliding or movable members.1 adapted tot slide by the action of gravity upon the breaking of a thread and the release of a detector by the broken thread which passed thereunder. These detectors must be delicately adjusted and in my present improvement I have provided improved guiding, holding and sliding means for the operation of these detectors. Furthermore l am enabled in my present arrangement to form a duplicate row of detectors, thus permitting Serial No. 539,976.

them to operate upon a larger number of threads within a predetermined space, because of the double row permitting overlapping or staggering of detector members so that thethreads would be closer than would be possible were'each detector in alinement.

Further details` advantages and improvements will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodimentof my invention,

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the general position of my guide, tube or cylinder;

F ig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the tube partly in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the tube;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the detectors in raised position; and

Fig. 5 is a similar cross-sectional view illustrating one detector whereon the thread is broken, permitting it to drop, establish the electrical connection and sound a signal, light, bell or stop the mechanism.

ln the present application l have designated corresponding parts, as far as possible, in the same manner as that in my said prior application.

lit will be appreciated that my guide, cylinder, tube. or detector carrier, is mounted on any suitable brackets or bearings, spaced and positioned between the beam from which the yarn or thread is wound to the pot-eyes or guides which collect the predetermined number of threads for the future twisting and winding actions. As illustrated in Fig. l. the group or series of threads 5 led from oit' the beam (not shown) to my combined guide and detector cylinder 25 are held in spaced relation as they are led over the cylinder 25, thus giving a desired view of the threads to the operator, who can see at a glance that the threads are reeling oi smoothly and unbroken.

From the cylinder 25 each group of threads is led to a pot-eye 7 on a supporting beam 9 and thence to additional guides or pot-eyes and the twisting and winding devices.

rEhe present invention having to do with the operation ci the detectors and their guiding means, l have not illustrated any further portions of the winding machine.

lin the present form of my invention, l form the guide 25 as a cylinder or tube,

which has a U-shaped guide member 30 guides or grooves for the detectors 35. Each of these detectors is in the formof a thin metal strip ggz/'wire having a topmost flange 36 at right angles to the main or shank portion 35, and the bottom orthread engaging foot formed "with forked arms 39 which straddle the threads 5. In order topaord a better guide for these detectors 35, I apply a cooperatingy U-shaped member l40 adapted to fit over and upon the upstanding arms ofthe member 30 already described, this ymember 40being similarly provided with staggered rows of recesses 41, through which the shanks of theA detectors 35 pass, the openings 41 and 3l, being in alinement and in spaced relation, and thusaifording a guidingmeans which will hold the detectors 35 in proper alinement, insure their sliding movement, with a minimum of friction and greatest possible speed of action upon the breaking of a thread 5. By this delicate arrangement of the spaced bearings in the members 30 and 40, I can secure an extremely large range of adjustment of tension on the threads 5 through the partial rotation of the tube 25, thus inclining the tube and the detectors-as shown in Fi l--to la very great extent and still permit thedetectors 35 to move, slide or fall and perform their function upon the breaking of a thread.

The operation of the detector mechanism in the tube 25 is similar to that explained in my said prior application. Fitted in the tube and preferably pressed at either side of the bearing afforded by interlocking members 3() and 40-as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 I fit strips 44 and 45 of, non-magnetic material on which is placed a strip of conducting material 46 and 47 respectively. I also prefer to make the member 40 of suitable conducting material, so that upon the falling of one of the indicators or detectors 35, the head 36 contacting with the conductor 46 or 47 and with the shank in engagement with the member 40, a circuit is completed, through the detector and the wires 48 and 49 to a bell, light, signal or lever stopping the mechanism, as fully explained in my said prior application.

My improved form of detector holding means consisting in the members 30 and 40, and the arrangement thereof whereby I may stagger the rows of slots 3l and 32, has proven to be of great importance, as it permits the individual threads constituting the groups 5 to be more closely spaced on'the cylinder 25 and through the Vdetector mechanism, than would otherwise be possible were but a single row of detectors positioned. The double bearing afforded by the guides 30 and 40 also insures quickness, speed and delicacy of operation, and therefore permits a. wide range of tension, from the full weight of the detector on the thread .when the cylinder 25 is arranged with the detectors in vertical position, to an extremely fine angle, when the cylinder 25 is partially rotated that the detectors exert but a slight tension afforded by a fraction of their weight owing to the angle, while still permitting the sliding of a detector upon the breaking of a thread.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, each thread 5 carries the weight or partial weight when the detectors are at an angle, of each detector, and upon the breaking of a thread, such for example, as 'illustrated in Fig. 5 where the thread 6 is broken, the ends 8 and l() are separated and release the weight of the detector 35, permitting'it to dro with the head 36 in contact with the con ucting plate 37 and its shank v35 of the detector still in contact with the plate 40, thereby establishing a circuit through the h ead 36 and plate 40 and thence to the wires 48 and 49 to the source of power and signal.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

'1. Thread detecting and indicating mechanism, comprising a plurality of detectors, a tubular member carrying, enclosing, guarding and protecting the detectors, and spaced guides for the detectors.

2. Thread detecting means' of the kind described, comprising a rotatable cylinder,

plurality of thread detectors wrried b and movable transversely through said c i inder, said detectors being arranged in a p urality of parallel rows.

3. Thread 'detecting means of the kind described, comprising a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of thread detectors carried b and movable transversely through said ey inder, said detectors being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, and a plurality of spaced bearings for each detector.

4. Detector mechanism for thread and yarn twisting machines comprising a rotatable guide cylinder, over which the individual threads are led and maintained in spaced relation, a pair of U-shaped members arranged longitudinally in said cylinder, perforations through Said U-shaped members in alinement, and detectors slidably positioned through said recesses and in spaced relation in combination'with electrical current carrying means normally disconnected but automatically connected thnough the, Sliding action of any one detector.

In testimony whereof, I have Signed my name to this specification.

MILLARD F. FIELD. 

